Tree Step System

ABSTRACT

A tree step system  100  having a tubing  110 ; and a step lag screw  130 , whereby the tubing  110  may be used as a hammer to drive the step lag screw  130  into a tree  20  and the tubing  110  may further be used for leverage to turn the step lag screw  130  into the tree. The tree step system  100  may include a rod step  150 , and an adjustable fastener  170  for adjusting the depth of the adjustable fastener  170  and preventing the tree step system  100  from rotating. The rod step centerline may be offset ninety degrees from the centerline of the step lag screw  130 , whereby the offset provides for ease of climbing and entering a tree stand with the proper foot. The tubing  110  may comprise an upper tubing  114  and a lower tubing  124  for ease of installation.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device that may be used by huntersand others interested in using climbing steps to climb a tree.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Many outdoor recreational activities require an individual to perchhimself well above the ground. In deer hunting, for example, treesfrequently provide the best means available to a hunter for avoidingearly detection by his prey. Many hunters and other outdoor sportspersons use a device commonly known as a tree step. The typical treestep is a simple single step placed in the tree or other object byscrewing in one step at a time. There is a need for tree steps that maybe mounted on a tree or object two at a time without the requirement forhammers, wrenches or other tools for affixing the tree steps.

SUMMARY

A tree step system having a tubing; and a step lag screw, whereby thetubing may be used as a hammer to drive the step lag screw into a treeand the tubing may further be used for leverage to turn the step lagscrew into the tree. The tree step system may include a rod step, and anadjustable fastener for adjusting the depth of the adjustable fastenerand preventing the tree step system from rotating. The rod stepcenterline may be offset ninety degrees from the centerline of the steplag screw, whereby the offset provides for ease of climbing and enteringa tree stand with the proper foot. The tubing may comprise an uppertubing and a lower tubing for ease of installation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features, aspects, and advantages of the invention will becomebetter understood with regard to the following description, appendedclaims, and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the tree step systeminstalled according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the tree step systemassembled according to the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a side view of one embodiment of a step lag screw accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of one embodiment of the step lag screwassembly with tubing according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the tree stepsystem with a single member tubing according to the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of an embodiment showing the assemblywherein one member is inserted into the other for a tree step systemaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 5B is a perspective view of yet another embodiment the tree stepsystem assembled with the rod step offset 180 degrees from theembodiment in FIG. 5A according to the present invention;

FIG. 5C is a perspective view of yet another embodiment the tree stepsystem assembled with the rod step offset 90 degrees from the embodimentin FIG. 5A according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of still another embodiment depicting aninner tubing for a tree step system according to the present invention;

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of another embodiment of a tree stepsystem showing the inner tubing secured with the upper tubing accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 7B is a perspective view of the tree step system of FIG. 7Adepicting the inner tubing secured with the upper tubing illustratingthe use of fasteners with one embodiment according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a tree stepsystem showing the inner tubing secured with the lower tubing accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 8B is a perspective view of the tree step system of FIG. 8Adepicting the inner tubing secured with the lower tubing illustratingthe use of fasteners with one embodiment according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the tree stepsystem according to the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the rod step assemblywith tubing according to the present invention;

FIG. 11A is a perspective view of another embodiment of a tree stepsystem showing an adjustable fastener with a top member and a bottommember according to the present invention;

FIG. 11B is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a tree stepsystem showing another adjustable fastener with a top member and abottom member according to the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the tree stepsystem illustrating one molded fabrication design according to thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of tree steps and morespecifically this invention provides a built in apparatus for deliveringthe hammer blow to start the threaded screw as well as built in leverageto rotate the threaded step. The following description is presented toenable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the inventionand to incorporate it in the context of particular applications. Variousmodifications, as well as a variety of uses in different applicationswill be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generalprinciples defined herein may be applied to a wide range of embodiments.Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to theembodiments presented, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistentwith the principles and novel features disclosed herein. For thepurposes of this invention, the term tubing may also include and referto solid material. The tubing term is useful here in the traditionalsense of hollow materials but also expanded to include other solidmaterials especially with composite or plastic materials.

Overview:

As depicted in FIG. 1, a tree step system 100 and method forinstallation of the tree step system having a tubing 110; and a step lagscrew 130 secured to the tubing 110, whereby the tubing 110 may be usedas a hammer to drive the step lag screw 130 into a tree 20 and thetubing 110 may further be used for leverage to turn the step lag screw130 into the tree 20. The tree step system 100 may include a rod step150, and an adjustable fastener 170 for adjusting the depth of theadjustable fastener 170 and preventing the tree step system 100 fromrotating. The rod step 150 centerline may be offset ninety degrees fromthe centerline of the step lag screw 130, whereby the offset may providefor ease of climbing and entering a tree stand with the proper foot. Thetubing 110 may comprise an upper tubing 114 and a lower tubing 124 forease of installation.

Design Specifications:

As depicted in different embodiments in FIGS. 1 through 12, a tree stepsystem 100 includes a step lag screw 130 and a tubing 110. The step lagscrew 130 includes a threaded portion 132 and a step portion 134. Thestep portion 134 and the threaded portion 132 may form an approximatestraight alignment without any curves or bends as illustrated in FIG.3A. One embodiment of the tree step system 100 may include a step lagscrew 130 wherein the length of the step lag screw 130 is 7.5 inches,the diameter of the step portion 134 is 0.4375 inches, the threadedportion 132 is approximately 2.5 inches and a step lag screw pinaperture 136 is 2.8 from the threaded portion end of the step lag screw130 with a step lag screw pin aperture 136 of 0.156 inches. Oneembodiment may include a metal step lag screw; other embodiments mayinclude a composite or plastic step lag screw while even otherembodiments may include the metal step lag screw embedded in the plasticor composite. The tubing 110 may be a single member tubing asillustrated in FIG. 4 or multi-member tubing having an upper tubing 114and a lower tubing 124 as illustrated in FIG. 5, in addition the tubing110 may further include an inner tubing 128 as illustrated in FIG. 6.The tubing 110 may be geometric shaped tubing 110 including but notlimited to square, round, or rectangular tubing and may have fabricatedmaterial including but not limited to ferrous and non-ferrous metals,steel, aluminum, steel, plastics, and composites. As shown in FIG. 4,one embodiment may include a single member tubing 110. Where multipletubing members are used, the tree system 100 may be described in twosections: a top member 200 and a bottom member 300. As illustrated inFIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C, a multiple member embodiment may include an uppertubing 114 and a lower tubing 124 where one tubing is small enough to beinserted into the other tubing but large enough to produce a snug fitfor security of the two members. As shown in FIG. 6, another embodimentmay include an upper tubing 114, a lower tubing 124, and an inner tubing128 where the inner tubing 128 may be inserted into the upper tubing 114and the lower tubing 124 to aid in attaching the top member 200 and thebottom member 300. In this embodiment the upper and lower tubing 114,124 may be the same size with the inner tubing 128 smaller than theupper or lower tubing 114, 124 so that the inner tubing 128 may beinserted in the upper and lower tubing 114, 124. As illustrated in FIGS.7A and 7B, the inner tubing 128 may be secured to the upper tubing 114and inserted into the lower tubing 124 during assembly in oneembodiment; or as illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B the inner tubing 128may be secured to the lower tubing 124 and inserted into the uppertubing 114 during assembly in another embodiment. A positive stopresults from the lower tubing 124 contacting the upper tubing 114 thusaligning the top member adjustable fastener aperture 260 and bottommember adjustable fastener aperture 360. The combination of the step lagscrew 130 and the tubing 110 secured together as shown in FIG. 9 allowthe tree step system 100 to be used as a hammer to drive the step lagscrew 130 into a tree and the tubing 110 further used for leverage toturn the step lag screw 130 into the tree to further secure the treestep system 100 in the tree. The step lag screw 130 and the tubing 110may be secured together by being formed as one molding or formedseparately and joined together. As depicted in FIG. 3B, one embodimentmay comprise a tubing 110 with having a step lag screw aperture 212 orhole for the step lag screw 130 to be inserted into and the tubing 110and the step lag screw 130 having a step lag screw pin aperture 136wherein a step lag screw pin 138 may be inserted into the step lag screwaperture 212 to secure the step lag screw 130 with the tubing 110. Otherembodiments for securing the step lag screw 130 with the tubing 110 mayinclude but not be limited to pins, conventional nuts and bolts,welding, glue, rivets, or clips. As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 11A, and11B, the tree step system 100 may include an adjustable fastener 170.The adjustable fastener 170 may accommodate different tree diameters andprohibit the tree step system 100 from rotating to a perpendicularposition which might limit foot accessibility to the lower step. Theadjustable fastener 170 provides adjustability for the depth of theadjustable fastener 170, and whereby the adjustable fastener 170 maycontact a tree curvature preventing the tree step system 100 fromrotating. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 12, with the adjustablefastener 170, the tubing 110 further comprises an adjustable fasteneraperture 176 wherein the adjustable fastener aperture centerline may beparallel with the centerline of the step lag screw 130. The adjustablefastener aperture 176 may pass through the tubing 110 where theembodiment is a single tubing 100, or through the upper and lower tubing114, 124 where the embodiment is a multi-member embodiment, or througheither the upper or lower tubing 114, 124 and the inner tubing 128 wherethe multi-member embodiment includes an inner tubing 128. With themulti-member embodiments, the adjustable fastener 170 may attach the topmember 200 with bottom member 300. The adjustable fastener 170 may beinserted in the top member adjustable fastener aperture 260 and thebottom member adjustable fastener aperture 360. The adjustable fastener170 may include but is not limited to thumb screw, jamb nut, wing nutcombinations, clevis pin, hairpin combinations, conventional nut, boltcombinations, or a pin with a clip combination. As shown in FIGS. 7B and8B, the adjustable fastener 170 may have at least one adjustable clipaperture 174 in the adjustable fastener 170 and an adjustable clip 172such that the disposition of the adjustable clip 172 in the desiredadjustable clip aperture 174 may adjust the depth of the adjustablefastener 170, and such that the adjustable fastener 170 may secure thetop member 200 and bottom member 300 together. As shown in FIG. 10, thetree step system 100 may include a rod step 150 secured with the tubing110 distal from the step lag screw. For a multi-member embodiment, therod step 150 may be secured with the lower tubing 124 distal from theend of the lower tubing 124 that attaches with the upper tubing. The rodstep 150 and the tubing 110 may be secured together by being formed asone molding or formed separately and joined together. One embodiment mayinclude a metal rod step, other embodiments may include a composite orplastic rod step while even other embodiments may include the metal rodstep embedded in the plastic or composite. One embodiment may comprise atubing 110 with having a rod step aperture 312 or hole for the rod step150 to be inserted into and the tubing 110 and the rod step 150 having arod step pin aperture 332 wherein a rod step pin 340 may be insertedinto the rod step aperture 312 to secure the rod step 150 with thetubing 110. Other embodiments for securing the rod step 150 with thetubing 110 may include but not be limited to pins, conventional nuts andbolts, welding, glue, rivets, or clips. The tree step system may befinished with material coating including but not limited to painting,plating, powder coating, or camouflage taping.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, one embodiment may include a top member 200that includes an upper tubing 114, a top member adjustable fasteneraperture 260, a step lag screw 130 wherein the step lag screw 130 issecured to the upper tubing 114, a bottom member 300 that includes alower tubing 124, a bottom member adjustable fastener aperture 360, arod step 150 wherein the rod step 150 is secured to the lower tubing124, and an adjustable fastener 170 wherein the top member 200 and thebottom member 300 may be attached by inserting one member into the othermember and the top member 200 and the bottom member 300 may be attachedby inserting the adjustable fastener 170 in the top member adjustablefastener aperture 260 and the bottom member adjustable fastener aperture360. Normally, the bottom member adjustable fastener aperture 360centerline is ninety degrees offset from the rod step 150 as depicted inFIGS. 5B, 5A, and 8A. However, the bottom member adjustable fasteneraperture may be parallel with the rod step 150 as depicted in FIG. 5C asa bottom member ninety degree adjustable fastener aperture 362. Anotherembodiment may include both the bottom member adjustable fasteneraperture 360 which is offset from the rod step 150 ninety degrees andthe bottom member ninety degree adjustable fastener aperture 362 bottommember ninety degree adjustable fastener aperture 362 which is parallelwith the rod step 150. With the dual configuration bottom memberadjustable fastener apertures 360, 362 the rod step may be positioned inninety degree increments from ninety degrees offset from the step lagscrew 130 in one direction, to parallel with the step lag screw 130, toninety degrees offset from the step lag screw 130 in the otherdirection. As previously described the adjustable fastener 170 with theadjustable clip apertures 174 and the adjustable clip 172 may be used toadjust the depth of the adjustable fastener 170 for the diameter of thetree and the resulting tree curvature. In another embodiment as depictedin FIGS. 7A and 7B, the tree step system 100 may further comprise aninner tubing 128 wherein the inner tubing 128 may be inserted into theupper tubing 114 and the lower tubing 124 to aid in attaching the topmember 200 and the bottom member 300; or as depicted in FIGS. 8A and 8B,in one embodiment the tree step system top member 200 may furthercomprise an inner tubing 128 wherein the inner tubing 128 may beinserted into the upper tubing 114 and the lower tubing 124 to aid inattaching the top member 200 and the bottom member 300, wherein theinner tubing 128 is secured with the upper tubing 114 and the top memberinner tubing 128 may be inserted into the lower tubing; or as depictedin FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C in yet another embodiment, the tree step system100 wherein the bottom member 300 further comprises a bottom memberninety degree adjustable fastener aperture 362 rotated ninety degreesfrom the bottom member adjustable fastener 170 on the plane of the lowertubing 124 such that the bottom member 300 may be inserted into theupper member at ninety degree increments such that the rod step 150 maybe positioned in alignment with the step lag screw 130; or in stillanother embodiment, the tree step system 100 wherein the top member 200and the bottom member 300 may be constructed of steel; or in anotherembodiment wherein the top member 200 and the bottom member 300 may beattached together with a positive stop aligning the top memberadjustable fastener aperture 260 and the bottom member adjustablefastener aperture 360. In another embodiment as depicted in FIG. 12, thetree step system 100 wherein the upper tubing 114 and the step lag screw130 may comprise a plastic composite molded together and wherein thelower tubing 124 and the rod step 150 may comprise a plastic compositemolded together and wherein the top member 200 further comprises aradius section 235 joining the step portion 134 of the step lag screw130 and the upper tubing 114 for support and wherein the bottom member300 further comprises a radius section 355 joining the rod step 150 andthe lower tubing 124 for support and wherein the bottom member 300further comprises an outer sleeve 325 on the distal end of the lowertubing 124 from the rod step 150 for receiving the top member 200whereby the top member 200 and the bottom member 300 may be attached.

As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, another embodiment may include a top member200 that includes an upper tubing 114, a top member adjustable fasteneraperture 260, a step lag screw 130 wherein the step lag screw 130 issecured to the upper tubing 114, a bottom member 300 that includes alower tubing 124, a bottom member adjustable fastener aperture 360, arod step 150 wherein the rod step 150 is secured to the lower tubing124, and an adjustable fastener 170 wherein the top member 200 and thebottom member 300 may be attached by inserting one member into the othermember and the top member 200 and the bottom member 300 may be attachedby inserting the adjustable fastener 170 in the top member adjustablefastener aperture 260 and the bottom member adjustable fastener aperture360. The bottom member 300 may further include an inner tubing 128wherein the inner tubing 128 may be inserted in the lower tubing 124,wherein the bottom member adjustable fastener aperture 360 is an innertubing adjustable fastener aperture 324 and the inner tubing 128 issecured with the lower tubing 124 and the bottom member 300 such thatthe inner tubing 128 may be inserted into the upper tubing 114 andattached with the adjustable fastener 170 wherein the top memberadjustable fastener aperture 260 is the upper tubing 114 adjustablefastener aperture 176 and the bottom member adjustable fastener aperture360 is the inner tubing adjustable fastener aperture 324, wherein theadjustable fastener centerline is parallel with the step lag screwcenterline and the rod step centerline is ninety degrees from the steplag screw centerline. As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3A, 3B, 8A, 8B, 10,11A, and 11B, in another embodiment, the tree step system 100: the uppertubing 114 may further have a step lag screw aperture 212, and an uppertubing step lag screw pin aperture 214; the step lag screw 130 mayfurther have a step lag screw pin aperture 136, wherein the step lagscrew 130, the threaded portion 132, and the step portion 134 isstraight without curves and bends; the top member 200 may furtherinclude a step lag screw pin 138, wherein the step lag screw 130 isinserted in the step lag screw aperture 212 in the upper tubing 114 andthe step lag screw pin 138 may be inserted through the upper tubing steplag screw pin aperture 214 and the step lag screw pin aperture 136; thelower tubing 124 may further have a lower tubing rod step aperture 312,a lower tubing rod step pin aperture 314, and a lower inner tubing pinaperture 318; the bottom member 300 may further include a rod step pin340, the rod step 150 having a rod step pin aperture 332, wherein therod step 150 is inserted in the lower tubing rod step aperture 312 andthe rod step pin 340 may be inserted through the lower tubing rod steppin aperture 314 and the rod step pin aperture 332 wherein the rod step150 is secured to the lower tubing 124, and wherein the inner tubing 128having an inner lower tubing pin aperture 322 and wherein the bottommember 300 further including a lower inner tubing pin 350 that may beinserted in the inner lower tubing pin aperture 322 and the lower innertubing pin aperture 318, whereby the lower tubing 124 is secured to theinner tubing 128. In still another embodiment, the tree step systembottom member 300 may be rotated 180 degrees whereby the rod step 150may be disposed on the opposite side of the tree step system 100 toenable the user to climb around limbs and enter a tree stand with theproper foot. The inner tubing 128 may be secured with the upper or lowertubing 114, 124 by securing methods including but not limited towelding, pining, gluing, bolting, or screwing.

Manner of use:

A method of assembling a tree step system 100 is illustrated in FIGS. 1,2, and 8B comprising the steps of: grasping an end of an upper tubing114 opposite a threaded portion 132 of a top member 200 of a treesystem; swinging the top member 200 of the tree step system 100 toward atree 20 similar to a hammer whereby the threaded portion 132 of the treeassembly starts to penetrate the tree 20; rotating the top member 200 ofthe tree step system 100 by gripping the upper tubing 114 opposite thethreaded portion 132 such that the upper tubing 114 provides leveragefor turning the threaded portion 132 and further penetrating the tree20; stopping the rotation of the top member 200 wherein the upper tubing114 opposite the threaded portion 132 is offset from the centerline ofthe tree such that a bottom member 300 of the tree step system 100 maybe inserted in the top member 200 of the tree step system 100 and anadjustable fastener 170 may be inserted in the top and bottom members200, 300 to keep the tree step system 100 from rotating when weight isapplied to a bottom member rod step 150; inserting the bottom member 300in the top member 200 with the rod step centerline 90 degrees offsetfrom the threaded portion 132; inserting the adjustable fastener 170 ina top and bottom member adjustable fastener aperture 260, 360; andinserting a adjustable fastener clip 172 in an adjustable fastener clipaperture 174 such that the adjustable fastener 170 is the depth neededfor the tree diameter to prevent rotation of the tree step system 100when weight is applied to the bottom member rod step 150.

Another embodiment of the method of assembling a tree step system 100 isillustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 8B comprising the steps of: grasping anend of an upper tubing 114 opposite a threaded portion 132 of a topmember 200 of a tree system; swinging the top member 200 of the treestep system 100 toward a tree 20 similar to a hammer whereby thethreaded portion 132 of the tree assembly starts to penetrate the tree20; rotating the top member 200 of the tree step system 100 by grippingthe upper tubing 114 opposite the threaded portion 132 such that theupper tubing 114 provides leverage for turning the threaded portion andfurther penetrating the tree 20; stopping the rotation of the top member200 wherein the upper tubing 114 opposite the threaded portion 132 isoffset from the centerline of the tree such that a bottom member 300 ofthe tree step system 100 may be inserted in the top member 200 of thetree step system 100 and an adjustable fastener 170 may be inserted inthe top and bottom members 200, 300 to keep the tree step system 100from rotating when weight is applied to a bottom member rod step 150;rotating the bottom member step 180 degrees when desired such that thestep is on the opposite side for avoiding a tree branch and for enteringa tree stand with the proper foot; inserting the bottom member 300 inthe top member 200 with the rod step centerline 90 degrees offset fromthe threaded portion; inserting the adjustable fastener 170 in a top andbottom member adjustable fastener aperture 260, 360; and inserting aadjustable fastener clip 172 in an adjustable fastener clip aperture 174such that the adjustable fastener 170 is the depth needed for the treediameter to prevent rotation of the tree step system 100 when weight isapplied to the bottom member rod step 150.

Another feature of the tree step system 100 is an inherent theftdeterrent capability when the bottom member 300 is removed from the treestep system 100 after installation on the tree as shown in FIG. 1. Someor all of the bottom members 300 may be removed to deter thieves fromclimbing the steps and stealing the tree step system 100. With theremoval of these steps it would be difficult for the thief to negotiatethe gap between the remaining steps.

1. A tree step system comprising: a tubing; and a step lag screw, havinga threaded portion, a step portion wherein the step lag screw having anapproximate straight alignment; whereby the step lag screw is secured tothe tubing and the tubing may be used as a hammer to drive the step lagscrew into a tree and the tubing may further be used for leverage toturn the step lag screw into the tree.
 2. The tree step system accordingto claim 1 wherein the tubing further comprises an adjustable fasteneraperture wherein the adjustable fastener aperture centerline is parallelwith the centerline of the step lag screw, and the tree step systemfurther comprising: a rod step, wherein the rod step is secured to thetubing; and an adjustable fastener wherein the adjustable fastener mayadjust the depth of the adjustable fastener, and whereby the adjustablefastener may contact a tree curvature preventing the tree step systemfrom rotating.
 3. The tree step system according to claim 2 wherein therod step centerline is ninety degrees offset from the centerline of thestep lag screw, whereby the offset provides for ease of climbing andentering a tree stand with the proper foot.
 4. A tree step systemcomprising: a top member including: an upper tubing; a top memberadjustable fastener aperture; a step lag screw, having a threadedportion, a step portion; and whereby the step lag screw is secured tothe upper tubing and the upper tubing may be used as a hammer to drivethe step lag screw into a tree and the upper tubing may further be usedfor leverage to turn the step lag screw into the tree; a bottom memberincluding: a lower tubing; a bottom member adjustable fastener aperture;a rod step, wherein the rod step is secured to the lower tubing; and anadjustable fastener wherein the top member and the bottom member may beattached by inserting one member into the other member, and wherein whenthe top member is attached with bottom member the adjustable fastenermay be inserted in the top member adjustable fastener aperture and thebottom member adjustable fastener aperture wherein the adjustablefastener having at least one adjustable clip aperture in the adjustablefastener and an adjustable clip whereby the disposition of theadjustable clip in the desired adjustable clip aperture may adjust thedepth of the adjustable fastener, and whereby the adjustable fastenermay secure the top member and bottom member together and contact a treecurvature preventing the tree step system from rotating.
 5. The treestep system according to claim 4 further comprising an inner tubingwherein the inner tubing may be inserted into the upper tubing and thelower tubing to aid in attaching the top member and the bottom member.6. The tree step system according to claim 4 wherein the top memberfurther comprises an inner tubing wherein the inner tubing may beinserted into the upper tubing and the lower tubing to aid in attachingthe top member and the bottom member, wherein the inner tubing issecured with the upper tubing and the top member inner tubing may beinserted into the lower tubing.
 7. The tree step system according toclaim 4 wherein the bottom member further comprises a bottom memberninety degree adjustable fastener aperture rotated ninety degrees fromthe bottom member adjustable fastener on the plane of the lower tubingsuch that the bottom member may be inserted into the upper member atninety degree increments such that the rod step may be positioned inalignment with the step lag screw.
 8. The tree step system according toclaim 4 wherein the top member and the bottom member are constructed ofsteel.
 9. The tree step system according to claim 4 wherein the topmember and the bottom member may be attached together with a positivestop aligning the top member adjustable fastener aperture and the bottommember adjustable fastener aperture.
 10. The tree step system accordingto claim 4 wherein the bottom member further includes an inner tubingwherein the inner tubing may be inserted in the lower tubing, whereinthe bottom member adjustable fastener aperture is an inner tubingadjustable fastener aperture and the inner tubing is secured with thelower tubing and the bottom member such that the inner tubing may beinserted into the upper tubing and attached with the adjustable fastenerwherein the top member adjustable fastener aperture is the upper tubingadjustable fastener aperture and the bottom member adjustable fasteneraperture is the inner tubing adjustable fastener aperture, wherein theadjustable fastener centerline is parallel with the step lag screwcenterline and the rod step centerline is ninety degrees from the steplag screw centerline.
 11. The tree step system according to claim 10,wherein: the upper tubing further having a step lag screw aperture, andan upper tubing step lag screw pin aperture, the step lag screw furtherhaving a step lag screw pin aperture, wherein the step lag screw, thethreaded portion, and the step portion is straight without curves andbends, the top member further including a step lag screw pin, whereinthe step lag screw is inserted in the step lag screw aperture in theupper tubing and the step lag screw pin may be inserted through theupper tubing step lag screw pin aperture and the step lag screw pinaperture, the lower tubing having a lower tubing rod step aperture, alower tubing rod step pin aperture, and a lower inner tubing pinaperture, the bottom member further including a rod step pin, the rodstep having a rod step pin aperture, wherein the rod step is inserted inthe lower tubing rod step aperture and the rod step pin may be insertedthrough the lower tubing rod step pin aperture and the rod step pinaperture wherein the rod step is secured to the lower tubing, andwherein the inner tubing having an inner lower tubing pin aperture andwherein the bottom member further including a lower inner tubing pinthat may be inserted in the inner lower tubing pin aperture and thelower inner tubing pin aperture, whereby the lower tubing is secured tothe inner tubing.
 12. The tree step system according to claim 10 whereinthe bottom member may be rotated 180 degrees whereby the rod step may bedisposed on the opposite side of the tree step system to enable the userto climb around limbs and enter a tree stand with the proper foot. 13.The tree step system according to claim 4 wherein the upper tubing is amolded plastic composite and wherein the lower tubing is a moldedplastic composite and wherein the top member further comprises a radiussection joining the step portion and the upper tubing for support andwherein the bottom member further comprises a radius section joining therod step and the lower tubing for support and wherein the bottom memberfurther comprises an outer sleeve on the distal end of the lower tubingfrom the rod step for receiving the top member whereby the top memberand the bottom member may be attached.
 14. The tree step systemaccording to claim 13 wherein the step lag screw threaded portion ismetal.
 15. The tree step system according to claim 4 wherein the uppertubing and the step lag screw are a plastic composite molded togetherand wherein the lower tubing and the rod step are a plastic compositemolded together and wherein the top member further comprises a radiussection joining the step portion and the upper tubing for support andwherein the bottom member further comprises a radius section joining therod step and the lower tubing for support and wherein the bottom memberfurther comprises an outer sleeve on the distal end of the lower tubingfrom the rod step for receiving the top member whereby the top memberand the bottom member may be attached.
 16. A method of assembling a treestep system comprising the steps of: grasping an end of an upper tubingopposite a threaded portion of a top member of a tree system; swingingthe top member of the tree step system toward a tree similar to a hammerwhereby the threaded portion of the tree assembly starts to penetratethe tree; rotating the top member of the tree step system by grippingthe upper tubing opposite the threaded portion such that the uppertubing provides leverage for turning the threaded portion and furtherpenetrating the tree; stopping the rotation of the top member whereinthe upper tubing opposite the threaded portion is offset from thecenterline of the tree such that a bottom member of the tree step systemmay be inserted in the top member of the tree step system and anadjustable fastener may be inserted in the top and bottom members tokeep the tree step system from rotating when weight is applied to abottom member rod step; inserting the bottom member in the top memberwith the rod step centerline 90 degrees offset from the threadedportion; inserting the adjustable fastener in a top and bottom memberadjustable fastener aperture; and inserting a adjustable fastener clipin an adjustable fastener clip aperture such that the adjustablefastener is the depth needed for the tree diameter to prevent rotationof the tree step system when weight is applied to the bottom member rodstep.
 17. A method of claim 16, wherein the step of stopping therotation of the top member when the upper tubing opposite the threadedportion is offset from the centerline of the tree such that a bottommember of the tree step system may be inserted in the top member of thetree step system further comprises the step of: rotating the bottommember step 180 degrees when desired such that the step is on theopposite side for avoiding the tree and for entering a tree stand withthe proper foot.